Otago Central Tours

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If you're seeking the thrill of a fine glass of wine or a round of golf then Central Otago could be just your place. The hottest, coldest and driest part of New Zealand is also home to some of its most adorable towns and finer vineyards.

The capital of Central Otago is Alexandra and its boutique hotels are a great base for exploring. The highlights of Central Otago (besides its gourmet delights) include the very well-preserved gold-rush towns of Ophir and St Bathans, the art-deco charms of Ranfurly and the picturesque orchards of the fruit-bowl area surrounding Cromwell.

Eleven golf courses dot the countryside and curling (the ancient Scottish sport) is popular in Naseby where you can play in year-round facilities. Otherwise the majority of action takes place along the Central Otago Rail Trail with walkers, cyclists and horse riders all enjoying the gentle gradient of the former railway line.

Practical Info

Queenstown is 40 minutes drive from Cromwell and an hour’s drive from Alexandra. Dunedin is 2.5 hours drive from Alexandra. A car is the best way to explore the area, moving at your own relaxed pace.

Pair the fine wines of Central Otago with a gourmet lunch platter on this small-group wine-tasting tour from Queenstown. Visit at least four boutique wineries during a 5.5-hour tour. You’ll drive through verdant valleys and vine-clad foothills rich in gold mining history. Numbers are limited to 12 people to ensure an intimate experience with other wine lovers.

Discover some of New Zealand's finest wines on a full-day tour of the Central Otago wine region from Queenstown. Visit five wineries, sip wine in Australasia's largest wine cave, enjoy a gourmet lunch, and sample locally made cheeses. You’ll also visit the Cromwell Heritage Precinct and learn about the Otago Gold Rush. Numbers are limited to 12 people on this small-group wine tour that includes wine tastings, lunch, transportation, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Discover some of the vineyards and wineries for which New Zealand’s fertile South Island is famous on this 4-hour wine tour from Queenstown. Travel from Queenstown into the South Island’s rolling hills with your guide. Visit a total of three wineries such as Gibbston Valley Winery, Mt Rosa, Waitiri Creek Winery or Chard Farm Winery. During your visits sample some of the delicious wines and cheese produced in the region, and gain insight into the delicate balances of scent and flavour at play in your glass.

Take a narrated coach tour from Queenstown to Christchurch, driving across the Canterbury Plains of the South Island. View the rugged mountain and farmland terrain of Otago as you cross Lindis Pass to Mt Cook Village, located at the base of New Zealand’s highest mountain. You’ll make several stops, including a church at Lake Tekapo, before arrival at your destination. Opt for an included 3-course buffet lunch at the Hermitage Hotel. If you’d like, take a helicopter or skiplane flight (own expense).

Swap Queenstown for Aoraki/Mt Cook on a one-way coach tour through the spectacular South Island countryside. The 4.5-hour journey north passes lush farmland and follows the winding Kawarau Gorge to Central Otago then over Lindis Pass and into the Mackenzie Basin. You’ll skirt the shores of Lake Pukaki where you can set eyes upon Mt Cook, New Zealand's tallest mountain. Opt for a three-course lunch at the Hermitage Hotel in Mount Cook Village before hotel drop-off.